Has there been movement in saving the loco's in the scrap yard? We are working to get them to the Harrisonburg area 1 1/2 hours north of Roanoke to the Chesapeake Western Ry. headquarters building (still standing along with3 others). The Baldwins originally ran here (technically the first diesels owned by the N&W Ry., part owner of the Chesapeake Western Ry.) I haven't heard anything about the scrapyard selling them yet. PLEASE, somebody let me know. These rolling stock,i.e., the loco's, are perfect examples of original equipment that the CHW Ry. ran. They ran the W class ran from 1927 until 1940's replaced by the M class until 1946 when the Baldwin diesels arrived. Thanks for any help anyone can give me on this.

lovebd@jmu.edu

As far as I know, nothing has happened with them yet. The city of Roanoke had made big plans to move the scrapyard, and other nearby businesses to make way for the Carillion Medical Research Complex, but things have been quiet since that time. If the Medical Complex does take off when funding is available, I'm sure that the locos will either be offered for immediate removal,or will be scrapped at that time. I don't think they will survive there forever.
I've sent you some e-mail Bryan, with some ideas about their future. Hope to hear from you soon. I really apprieciate the work that you have done to make the locals around Harrisonburg know of the impending fate of the locomotives. It is their heritage that will be lost if the engines are scrapped.

Brian Hebert



Conway Scenic Railroad
btamper@hotmail.com

> Has there been movement in saving the
> loco's in the scrap yard? We are working to
> get them to the Harrisonburg area 1 1/2
> hours north of Roanoke to the Chesapeake
> Western Ry. headquarters building (still
> standing along with3 others). The Baldwins
> originally ran here (technically the first
> diesels owned by the N&W Ry., part owner
> of the Chesapeake Western Ry.) I haven't
> heard anything about the scrapyard selling
> them yet. PLEASE, somebody let me know.
> These rolling stock,i.e., the loco's, are
> perfect examples of original equipment that
> the CHW Ry. ran. They ran the W class ran
> from 1927 until 1940's replaced by the M
> class until 1946 when the Baldwin diesels
> arrived. Thanks for any help anyone can give
> me on this.

If you really want to jnow the staus of the locomotives, call the man who owns them and ask!

The company is:

Virginia Scrap Iron & Metal Co., Inc.

(540) 343-3667

Without talking with this gentleman, all else concerning the engines is pure speculation and conjecture.

I'm sure that you can buy one or all if you are willing to pay the price, which I understand is quite high, as he knows that a similar engine, N&W 475, has been restored and is operating at Strasburg.

I saw the engines less than a month ago, and they are stripped, not equipped. If you entertain any thoughts about restoring one, bear in mind that Strasburg, with a fully equipped repair shop, spent over $600,000.00 on their restoration. And, they started with much more than exists at Roanoke.

The streamlining seams to be just that, streamlining and not just to cover the boiler with sheetmetal for appearances sake. Almost reminds me of the early Porsches. What a museum piece that would have made.

robert@trainorders.com

sorry, the above message was to be under the experimental German locomotive thread. Don't know how this happened

robert@trainorders.com

> If you really want to jnow the staus of the
> locomotives, call the man who owns them and
> ask!

I have been in contact with the yard general manager, Mr. Abbott, on many occassions.

> The company is:

> Virginia Scrap Iron & Metal Co., Inc.

> (540) 343-3667

> Without talking with this gentleman, all
> else concerning the engines is pure
> speculation and conjecture.

> I'm sure that you can buy one or all if you
> are willing to pay the price, which I
> understand is quite high, as he knows that a
> similar engine, N&W 475, has been
> restored and is operating at Strasburg.

The 475 also was in better condition, yes I understand.
The only deal I've heard is buy all or none.

> I saw the engines less than a month ago, and
> they are stripped, not equipped.

The running gear is there though. Boiler jacketing (sheet metal) etc. can be replaced, it would be harder to replace wheels, axels, rods, etc.
If you
> entertain any thoughts about restoring one,
> bear in mind that Strasburg, with a fully
> equipped repair shop, spent over $600,000.00
> on their restoration. And, they started with
> much more than exists at Roanoke.

There are plenty of grants just waiting for people to apply for them, note I said apply, not given away. I have already coresponded with Senator Warner and Representative Goodlatte and they seem enthusiastic (sp) about the prospects.

All we need do is form a non-profit group and get the general public behind us. One thing I have never understood is the need for secrecy with projects of this sort. Is the problem ego? It seems from the general public point of view, I am speaking of my own opinion here, the perception that the general public wouldn't know what the heck they need to do without the so called experts to tell them. These seem to be the same ones whose egos get in the way and projects fail while waiting for the hurt to be healed because it wasn't done the way the experts tell us it should be done.

I hope I haven't offended too many people with this but this opinion (one persons anyway) might not be what some people want to hear.

This was the case here 15 years ago. I don't want to see that happen again. It is a delicate situation, wish us luck. By the way, Thank you Brian for your support, I wish we could find others with your enthusiasm. Full steam ahead!

lovebd@jmu.edu

I am following this story with great interest.

"Dittoes" to the Full Steam Ahead, and Best Of Luck.

Was this not the same place where several of N&W's Y-6's sat, until scrapped in the mid 1970's ? In fact I believe it was '76.

HOW IN THE WORLD DID THIS EVER HAPPEN ? In a town with so much railroad pride, and during America's Bicentennial when pride and heritage was front-page news...? HOW IN THE WORLD DID NOT ONE OF THESE MAKE IT INTO THE MUSEUM ???

Let everyone who has an interest in Railway Preservation hope that the carnage of the 70's is not repeated there in Roanoke again.

Oh, what we would give for the chance to save an I-8 camelback from a scrapper up here in Reading-Lines country.

1218 is apparently safe. Keep the good news coming from Roanoke.

Was this not the same place where several of
N&W's Y-6's sat, until scrapped in the
mid 1970's ? In fact I believe it was '76.

I just learned about the Y-6's in the last year or two, but never had the chance to see them. I was too busy climbing on the 1218 when it was located by the river (pre 1985 flood) and wasn't aware of them. I'm sure my father would have taken us to see them had he known.

HOW IN THE WORLD DID THIS EVER HAPPEN ? In a
town with so much railroad pride, and during
America's Bicentennial when pride and
heritage was front-page news...? HOW IN THE
WORLD DID NOT ONE OF THESE MAKE IT INTO THE
MUSEUM ???

This is just one persons opinion but what kills me about the VMT is that they used to advertise having the largest collection of diesels in the south and they are located in the city that was one of the last places steam loco's ran. I have noticed the VMT is opening an automobile section in the old freight house. I hope they haven't changed their focus. Yes I understand they are not strictly a railroad museum and I like cars just as much as the next guy.

> Let everyone who has an interest in Railway
> Preservation hope that the carnage of the
> 70's is not repeated there in Roanoke again.

I wish the Y-6 in St. Louis was in Roanoke also.

> Oh, what we would give for the chance to
> save an I-8 camelback from a scrapper up
> here in Reading-Lines country.

1218 is apparently safe. Keep the good news
coming from Roanoke.

I don't know the full story with the 1218, I believe there were several stipulations that went along with the O. Winston Link collection. Let's hope that the 1218 and the Link collection comes to completion. I look foward to seeing them both.

lovebd@jmu.edu

Check the past Briefs Section of this site. Hume posted a series of photos I shot of one of the locos back in Feb. of this year. These locos and several tenders from articulateds remain at the scrap yard in fair condition. I would not rule them out of ever operating again, not by a long shot. They are in better shape than a lot of park locomotives I have seen.
At the time I was there, the yard manager told me that the locos were up for sale and the owner was anxious to find a buyer. Others have told me that the owner thinks they are made of gold. Get directly in contact with the VISM owner and work from there. I don't think the locos are in immediate danger. There are a bunch of them, including the last N&W 2-8-0 . Go for it. The worst that can happen is you'll find they are not presently available. Nobody can make the owner part with them.

Also, check the Lost Locomotives of Roanoke site.

Please send some feedback to us regarding your investigations.